Conveying storage device and corresponding method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10875725-B2
Application number	US-201816630844-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 15, 2018
Priority date	Jul 14, 2017
Publication date	Dec 29, 2020
Grant date	Dec 29, 2020

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a conveying storage device for containers, said device comprising: a first conveyor/second conveyor which is drivable in a first direction/second direction; a transfer device for transferring containers from a first conveying surface to a second conveying surface; an additional element; and a separating element. Between the transfer device and the separating element is a passage region along a transition region between the first and second conveying surface. The transfer device is movable into an emptying position during an emptying process. The additional element is movable during the emptying process relative to the transfer device, is introducible into the passage region or is located in the passage region, and can move containers to the second conveyor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A conveying storage device for containers, comprising:
a first conveyor which is drivable in a first direction;
a second conveyor which is drivable in a second direction, wherein the first direction and the second direction are opposite to each other, wherein the first conveyor and the second conveyor are arranged parallel to each other such that the containers are transferable from a first conveying surface of the first conveyor to a second conveying surface of the second conveyor;
a transfer device for transferring the containers from the first conveying surface to the second conveying surface;
an additional element, wherein the additional element is configured as a transfer element, wherein the transfer element has a curved surface or wherein the transfer element comprises at least two units assembled at an angle of 120° to 180°;
a separating element;
wherein a passage region exists along a transition region between the first conveying surface and the second conveying surface between the transfer device and the separating element, wherein the transfer device is movable into an emptying position during an emptying process of the conveying storage device, wherein the additional element is relatively movable in relation to the transfer device during the emptying process, and wherein the additional element is introducible into the passage region or arranged in the passage region during the emptying process and is adapted to transfer containers to the second conveyor; and
a drive for the transfer element, wherein a connecting shaft is provided which connects the drive and the transfer element, wherein a sensor is provided for a detection of a presence of one or more containers in the passage region, and wherein the sensor is adapted to trigger a trigger mechanism of the transfer element when one or more containers are detected.

2. The conveying storage device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a third conveyor which is drivable selectively in the first direction or in the second direction or is stationary, wherein the third conveyor is arranged between the first conveyor and the second conveyor, wherein the first conveyor, the second conveyor, and the third conveyor are arranged parallel to each other such that the containers are transferable from the first conveying surface of the first conveyor to a third conveying surface of the third conveyor, and from the third conveying surface of the third conveyor to the second conveying surface of the second conveyor;
wherein the passage region exists along the third conveying surface between the transfer device and the separating element; and
wherein the additional element is adapted to move the containers from the third conveyor to the second conveyor.

3. The conveying storage device according to claim 2 , wherein the additional element comprises an elastic support and is lockable by means of the elastic support, wherein the additional element or a part thereof consists at least partially of a resilient material or is spring-mounted, wherein the additional element or a part thereof is at least partially moved in a direction of a force exerted by the containers or the transfer device on the additional element or the part thereof upon contact with containers or upon contact with the transfer device.

4. The conveying storage device according to claim 2 , wherein the transfer device is mounted laterally next to the conveying storage device and is movable by means of a mounting.

5. The conveying storage device according to claim 2 , wherein the additional element is configured as a driven element, and wherein the additional element is arranged on the transfer device or on a structure independent of the transfer device.

6. The conveying storage device according to claim 5 , wherein the driven element comprises its own drive.

7. The conveying storage device according to claim 5 , wherein the driven element is coupled in a drivable manner to a drive of the third conveyor, wherein a coupling is provided which is activated in the emptying process.

8. The conveying storage device according to claim 1 , wherein the transfer element is arranged on the transfer device, and wherein the drive, a connection shaft, and the sensor are arranged on the transfer device.

9. A conveying storage device for containers, comprising:
a first conveyor which is drivable in a first direction;
a second conveyor which is drivable in a second direction, wherein the first direction and the second direction are opposite to each other, wherein the first conveyor and the second conveyor are arranged parallel to each other such that the containers are transferable from a first conveying surface of the first conveyor to a second conveying surface of the second conveyor;
a third conveyor which is drivable selectively in the first direction or in the second direction or is stationary, wherein the third conveyor is arranged between the first conveyor and the second conveyor, wherein the first conveyor, the second conveyor, and the third conveyor are arranged parallel to each other such that the containers are transferable from the first conveying surface of the first conveyor to a third conveying surface of the third conveyor, and from the third conveying surface of the third conveyor to the second conveying surface of the second conveyor;
a transfer device for transferring the containers from the first conveying surface to the second conveying surface;
an additional element adapted to move the containers from the third conveyor to the second conveyor; and
a separating element, wherein the additional element is enclosed by the separating element, wherein the additional element is configured such that it is movable relative to the separating element during an emptying process of the conveying storage device;
wherein a passage region exists along a transition region between the first conveying surface and the second conveying surface between the transfer device and the separating element, wherein the transfer device is movable into an emptying position during the emptying process of the conveying storage device, wherein the additional element is relatively movable in relation to the transfer device during the emptying process, and wherein the additional element is introducible into the passage region or arranged in the passage region during the emptying process and is adapted to transfer containers to the second conveyor; and
wherein the passage region exists along the third conveying surface between the transfer device and the separating element.

10. The conveying storage device according to claim 9 , wherein the transfer device and the separating element are arranged on the third conveyor and are movable by means thereof correspondingly in the first direction or in the second direction, wherein along the third conveying surface between the transfer device and the separating element the passage region exists with constant spacing.

11. The conveying storage device according to claim 9 , wherein an end portion of the separating element located in the second direction has a first chamfer, wherein the separating element is guided by means of a guide element, and wherein the guide element comprises a second chamfer at an end portion located in the first direction.

12. The conveying storage device according to claim 11 , wherein the additional element comprises a shell which at least partially surrounds the separating element and which is movably mounted on the separating element, wherein the shell is configured to be dimensionally stable, wherein an end portion of the shell located in the first direction has an end face which extends perpendicular

Assignees

• Krones Ag

Inventors

• Winzinger Frank
• Senn Konrad
• Binder Arthur
• Huettner Johann

Classifications

• B65G2201/0252

  Cans · CPC title

• B65G37/005

  comprising two or more co-operating conveying elements with parallel longitudinal axes (the conveying elements being endless surfaces B65G15/10) · CPC title

• B65G47/5113 Primary

  using endless conveyors (B65G47/5145 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65G47/682

  from a single conveyor lane consisting of one conveyor or several adjacent conveyors · CPC title

• B65G2201/0244

  Bottles · CPC title